Machine for shelling nuts.



G. S. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOB. SHELLING NUTS.

APPLICATION TILED SEPTA, 1908.

Patented M21122, 1909.

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0. s. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.4,1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909-.

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G. S. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1908.

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G. S. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOB SHELLING NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1908. 91 4,082 Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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- much greater UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES S. STEVENS, or 'sUN'oooK, NEW nAirrsrimE, assronoa rowrLrrs n. STOKES, or

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

$pecification oi Letters Patent. I

Patented March 2, 1909.

* Application filed September 4.,1908. Serial No. 451,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of "Suncook, in the county, of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Shelling Nuts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to nut-shelling machines, so-c'alled,and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts and devices hereinafter fully set forth and claimed. The principal object sought to be attained by the present invention is to produce an a'iitomatlc power-actuated machinebapable of shelling nuts in a comparatively inexpensi've, simple and efficient manner, the output or product of the machine consisting of a ercentage of whole or unbroken meats t an is or can be produced in nut-shelling machines heretofore devised, so far as I amaware. 5 In a machine of. the class referred to and as provided with my improvements the nuts are received singly and held endwise between alining non-revoluble plunger and anvil members, which thenin advancing subject the shell of the nut to a series-of rapidly revoluble surrounding s'aws which cut COITG.

sponding slits or. incisions longitudinally t erein, followed by contractin the distance between the adjacent ends 0 the plunger and anvil members, thereby correspondingly com ressing the nut still heldby them and crac ing or fractnring "its shell transversely at or near the ends of the slitted portions; after which the said holdin members are separated and returned to t eir respective normal positions, the. thus acted .upon nut meanwhile drop ing intoa receptacle below. The jaws and holding devices are ada ted to automaticallyaccommodate themse ves to nuts varying in size and form both longitu dinally and transversely and to centralize them therein. The saws or slitting devices are yieldingl'y form to the contour of the nut and atthe o, v Same time produce incisions in the latter.

having a redet ermined' depth or gage. The shell-crac 'ng device, in cooperation with the plunger and anvil, is capable of adjustment so as to eXert a greater or less endwise pressure upon the not as described. 'Another.

advantage possessed by the present immounted and adapted to con proved machine is the emplo ment of-air suction for exhausting dust, 0 'ps and foreign matter from the main'operating head whereby the nuts are finally discharged in a much better condition. 4

In the accompanying. four sheets of drawings illustrating my improved machine for shelling nuts, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the organized mechanism, the. severa'l devices being shown in the normal positions preparatory toreceiving, slitting and cracking a nut, front side elevation in reduced scale, a portion being represented in section. Fi 3 is a transverse sectional view in enlarge scale, taken substantially on line '3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the nut-receiving jaws, main operating head, &c. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the head, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the normally open jaws, &c., taken of the jaws only, showing the latter closed and supporting a nht centralized between them. Fig. 7 the main operating head, showing the manner of arranging and driving the shell-slittin saws. Fig. 8 is a detailedsectional view 0 one of the saw holders, &c., taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a'partial detail plan view, partly in section, showing the front an- Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view enlarged, taken on line a: r of Fig. 1, showing the rod or donnection, &c., for locking the anvil in-p'osition. Fig. 11 is a similar view, showing said rod in the locked position. Fig; 1-2 is an enlarged longitudinal central sectional view of the pressure adjusting device, taken on line 1 1 of.Fig.1.- 4 the relation of t e several saws to the nut while the shell of the latter is being longitudinally slitted. Figs; 14, 15, 1.6 and 17 represent in plan viewland in enlar ed scale different positions of the nujtian .its holding means. while it is being 'operated upon; the nut-receiving jaws being'omitted, and Fig. 18" shows the nut at the completion of the slitpreceding' itsrelease from the plungerand anvil members. x

The following is a more detailed descrip-' tion of my improved nut-shelling machine: It may be stated, however, that whiletheon line 5 5 of'Fig. 1. F g. 6 is a similar view vil member in the locked stationary position.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding 1s, a vertical sectional view of i 13 is an end viewshowing ting and cracking operations immediately machine may be'readily rious kinds of nuts the drawings represent it as being employed for shelling pecans.

The machine as a whole is indicated by A.

It has a bed or table tsu ported by legs at. The driving mechanism is ocated at the rear end of the machine and consists of a short transversely arranged horizontal shaft 0. revoluble inbearings a and driven by a belt a running over a pulley a secured to said shaft. At or about the center of the rear end of the bed is located the plunger-actuating cam b secured to the shaft. The form of the cam is such as to impart variable movements to the said plunger-rod e secured to thecrosshead amounted to reciprocate in ways a As drawn the cross-head carries a truck-roll b! in direct frictional contact with the cams peri hery. The cam is adapted to positive y actuate the plunger. during the forward or Working stroke, a weight w attached to a suitably'supported chain and connected to an arm member Z adjustably secured to the plunger rod is employed to return the plunger back to the normal position pre aratory to making the next working stro re. See Figs. 1 and 2. The plunger-rod e isalso supported in bearings 6 located contiguous to the jaws j j, soon to be described.

The front end portions, constituting the plunger proper, is cylindrical and someyvhat thicker than its rod or shank part. Its eriphery is rovided with a series of para lel longitudina l grooves e adapted to freely receive the corresponding portion of the several slitting-saws. Qpposed to and in alinement with the plunger is a horizontally mounted and guided front member or rod d, its rear end portion being enlarged to form a member (P, which I term an anvil. The adj acentinner ends of the members e d are recessed at aid res ectively to receive and hold a nut, as n. he surface of the anvil is also provided With'grooves, d registering or alining with those of the plunger, as clearly shown in Figs. 14 to 18. The said nut-re- 'ceiving 'aws, j, f and the mediumfor effecting an controlling their movements are located immediatelyback of the memo erating head D, in whichlatter the shell-'sfitting saws are operatively mounted. See Figs. 3 to 6. As drawn, the jaws are horizontally slidable transversely of the machine and extend longitudinally through an opening i into said head. The two jaw members form" a hopper-like; opening w communicatingwith a nut supporting chamber having curved inner sidewalls The front jaw, 11', has a bottom plate j and'a rear end part rovided with an-elongated opening is, the atter having the plunger extending therethrough. Each jaw member has a slotted horizontal supporting-bar 1' mounted to slidein bearings 6 Each jaw is actuated 965 by anarm whose free end passes upwardly adapted to shell vathrough the slotted part of said bar and engages a roll 1' carried by ,the latter. The lower end of the arm is secured'to a sultably supported short rock-shaft which in turn has a substantially horizontal lever 7c fixed to 70 its rear end. The inner or free end of each lever is provided with ear teeth k arranged in a segment form; t ese levers are intermeshing thereby insuring that when in action the two jaws will be moved simultaneo sly but in opposite directions toward and from each other.

The means for effecting the movements of the levers k isas follov. s: A horizontal shaft f is mounted to revolve in bearings f arranged atthe front side and longitudinally of the table if and is driven by a pair of bevel gears, f f, secured to shafts a andf. To the front end of the last named shaft a cam f is fixed, its face or peripheral rim being arranged with respect to a roll r (Figs. Land 3) carried by a vertically extending arm 1" pivoted at r to a fellow arm r secured to the corresponding rock-shaft. The member 1 has a projection r in which a push-spring r is seated its other end pressing the arm 1' By meansof this device the jaws are brought toward each other by the cam action to yieldingly engage and automatically adapt itself to nuts varying in size and to hold them sin ly in position between the j avis without un ue pressure. The working portion f of the cam acts to close the jaws and 'osition the nut before the latter is engage by the plunger and anvil members. 7 The outer concentric part of the cam serves to keep the jaws closed until the nut has been acted upon by the saws. When the portion f 5 of the cam passes the said roll 1' the two pull-springs k in cooperation with spring r quickly sepae rate the jaws and return them to the normal wide open. osition. It may be added that the act of -clbsing the aws ermits the oppositely curved or inclined flices 9' to engage the sides of the nut and move it bodily upward in the jaw chamber w until it is practically centralized therein. Figs. 5' and 6 represent the corresponding open and closed positions of the aws, the nut shown (see also Fig. 4) being one of the smaller sizes.

The shank d of the anvil member (1 is supported in bearings (Z integral with a bracket t secured to thefront portion of the bed t. See also Fig. 2. A swinging locking member m is pivoted at d? to the rear bearing; one arm of said member carries "a roll m its other arm, which is disposed substantially parallel with the rod d, having ratchetshaped teeth m adapted when in use to ongage the corresponding teeth of a block (1 secured to said rod. Fi 1 shows the arts in the normally unlocked orfree position and Fig. 9 the same when they are interlocked.

The following describes the means shovs n for automatically swinging said member an into and out of its operative osition. An end- Wise movable non-revolu le rod or shaft h,

which may be termed the locking-rod, is-

mounted horizontally in bearings h dis osed 5 at the rear side of the bed and paralle with the longitudinal axis of the machine. A dog or cam o is secured to the front end portion of the rod at a point adjacent the said member m. It (the cam) is provided-with 10 short plane surfaces, 0 againstavhich the roll m is adapted to bear. A-spring d F 1 operates to maintain the partsm an 0 in normal contact during certain por-.

tions of the plungers stroke,'thereby. prei5 venting the interlocking of the members an and (1. At or near the rear end of the rod h the latter is provided. with an elongated shallow-notch 72. into which the upper portion of a verticallyextending swinging lever .20 E is adapted to enter. This lever- (see Figs.

. 1, and ll) is-pivoted at k to the correthe rod h; t e former also has a hole therethrough arranged to receive the said pin h when'the plunger is at oi near the end'of its rearward stroke. The rod h is also provided ith a pressure-controlling device or means for-regulating the degree of force exerted endu iseby the plunger cracking its shell. Said device (see-Figs. 1 and 12) com cured to ro h, an adjusting member or 40 tapped collar 0 a check nut c mounted on the screw, and a helical compression s ring a surrounding the rod and interpose between said screw and the bearing h located near the rear jaw s supporting-bar. In the practical operation of this de vice the arm I ,plpon being advanced by the lunger say to thecollar c and force the rod h ahead a short \distance against the tension of spring 0",

thereby too advancing the dog 0 relatively .to the locking member m and swinging the toothed portion m of the latter inwardly into engagement with the toothed block dtof the slowly moving anvilrod d, thus arresting.

the latters movement .(see Fig. 9). Durin the locking-rods forward action the said notch h at its rear end will become exposed, at v. hich instant the spring b swin s the lever E into the notch. See also Fig. 11. The final action of I) being the oint portion b then contracts the distance etween the end of the plunger and that of the then temporarily stationary anvil. It is to be borne in mind that the 55 anvil is advanced with, the plunger by the iipon the nut rises an annular screw 0 se-.

e dotted. position (Fig. 1) vi 1 then engage:

inner surface of the we e plunger-driving cam action of the latter upon the nut interposed and held between them; the anvil it may be observed is maintained in yielding contact with the nut during said forward 'movement by a spring (1 The anvil remains ldcked or clutched in its stationary position until the plunger upon nearing the end of its rearward stroke causes the beveled end of the in h of lever Eto enter the hole 13, indicated Fig.

12, of the arm 1, thereby forcing the lever J out of the notch, at which instant spring 0 retracts the rod it until it is arrested by the engagement of itsenlarged front end or stop it W113i]; the adjacent standard 01; hearing member h; at the same time the corre- .spondingly changed position of the dog 0 permits the spring d to release the member m from block (1 and allows the spring 11 to move the anvil rearwardly or inwardly until it in turn is arrested by the contacting of saidblock with the rear bearing (1 substantiall as represented in Fig. 1. T e following describes the mechanism for actuating the series of'slittingsaws s andthe. manner of arranging and mounting them in .the operating chamber D of the'main' head D fixed to the top of the table. It may be stated in advance that the front and rear side walls, 4., i; and the peripheral casing member "5 constitute. the hOUS1Ilg,thB sides t5 being secured together by tie-bolts g. The

said chamber is 1n continuous open communication at the bottom with an EIFPIRB z leading therefrom to suitable exhaust mechzfnism or suction-blower-B. See. Fi 2. Returnin a ain to the nut-slitting mec nism: A re ativel'y large revoluble crown gear 9 is located within the head D, its hub i be-.- ing annular and extending through a central bearing '5" in the front Wall i see Fig. 4. To said hub is secured the belt-driven pulle P; the arrangement being suchthat en Wise movement of the partsisprevented; The web or plate of said gear has a central opening i in alinement with the opening '5 formed in the op osite or rear wall 01. The: hole t o ensintot eenlarged 'chamberedpart H of t e "gears hub I Iprefer to make the of the hub portion divergent or outwardly flaring, as indi.' cated at i in Figs. 4 and .9. As thus con-; structed the treated nuts when released in .the chamber H'are'upo'n striking said beveled r saws; two in number as. drawn, is secured to its arbor $3, in turn revolubly su ported inan endwise movable spring-presse frame a 13w threaded rod, '9, extends from .the shank ing a comparatively thick central washer or respective working planes.

vshell of the nut, W ile at the same time serv- 8, thereby cutting longitudinal parallel s'lits ried by the corresponding bracket G. The member F has a turned shank 9 (Fi 8) extending through a bushing 9 re voluble in the bracket. The outer end portion of said shank part is counterbored to receive a spring-g and is fitted to move longitudinally, within fixed limits, in .said bracket. A screwthrough a fixed cap-plate g, which latter also serves to confine the spring in position,- and is provided with nuts 9 for controlling the tension of the spring. To the inner end portion of said bushing g is secured a small spur gear 9 positioned so as to be in continuous engagement with the teeth of the crowngear 9 and be rotated by it. The frame F also carries a short revoluble shaft o ar-- ranged parallel with said shank g onwhich is secured a small gear 9 meshing with gear g}, and a bevel gear 9 inter-gearing with'a s'imilar gear 9 securedto the saw-arbor. The shaft v extends into and is capable of endwise movement in the bracket, therebymaintaining the frame and its members in their I prefer to arrange the saws in pairs or sets (one of which is more clearly represented in Fig. 13) and havdisk .9 interposed between them, the Whole being clamped together on the arbor by the thin outer washers s and nut The diameter of the said members s and s and their form transversely, as indicated at 3 may be devised to conform in an approximate manner to the corres onding convexity of theing as a gage for limiting the depth of the kerf or slits n produced in the nuts shell, thereby preventing the saws from cutting or mutilating the meats.

In my improved nut-shelling machine A, which is adapted for continuous operation and in which the several devices or elements thereof have been properly positioned and timed, the attendant first places a nut in the chamber w of they; open jaws while the plunger--is at or neaif the end of its rearward stroke, as indicated in Figs. 1 to 5 and Fig. 14. The cam f and its cooperating mechanism then immediately close the jaws, thereby positioning and centralizing the nut; the

main driving cam v at the same time slowly moving the plunger ahead to engage the adthe still supported nut into engagement with and past the several ra idly revolving saws n in the nuts shell, the saws at the same time adapting themselves to the shape of the nut.

nut. Fig. 17 shows the thus slitted and held The further rotation of the cam b 001- respondingly advances the nut-holding members; 6 (Z and carries it (the nut) through or. partly through the central openingt of the gearg (as determined by previous adjustment), at which instant the arm Z secured to the moving lungers shank e engages the collar 0 of t e spring-pressed locking-rod h and forces the latter ahead a short distance, thereby permitting the rear locking-lever E .to spring into the rods notch 7L thus preventing further normal forward movement of the rod and anvil and at the same time causing the dog 0 to swing the'toothed portion of the for ward locking member m into engagement with the then contiguous toothed block (1 of the anvil rod d. Fig. 9 shows the 'corresponding position of the last-named parts. Fig. 18 also shows therear end portion of the thus checked anvil. The final action of the cam b carries the plunger aheadto its ,limit thereby contracting the distance between the members at and d and crushing or fracturing the nuts shell, substantially as represented at n in Fig. 18. Now when the point portion 6 of. said cam passes the roll 5 of the 1 cross-head in its rearward stroke the weight w, &c., retractsthe plunger and permits the nut to fall bygravity into the bottom of the chamber H-of the revolving gears hub i, the nut being then deflected and discharged therefrom by the positioned clearer to. Just prior to the end of the rearward stroke the arm Z, &c., releases lever E thusunlocking the rod h, the spring 0 at the same time re tracting the latter to its limit, as determined by the end stop 71. thereby correspondingly niioving the dog 0 and permitting the spring (1 to release member m from the toothed block of the still stationary anvil-rod, at which instant the spring (1 quickly moves the latter rearwardly to its limit thus placing the anvil in position to cooperate with the plunger in receiving and holdlng the neXt nut,

thus completing the cycle of operations. It may be stated that a single nut is received and operated upon during a complete revolution of the shaft 11. .1

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by. United States Letters Patent, 1s:

1. In a machine for shelling or slitting and cracking the shells of nuts, the combination of a plurality of operatively mounted saws, mechanism for holding and subjecting a nut to the action of said saws so as to produce slits in its shell, and means for cracking the thus slitted-shell before the nut is discharged from the machine.

2. In a machine of the character de- 125 scribed, the combination with oppositely disposed alining plunger and anvil members. adapted to temporarily receive and holdanut therebetween, and means for actuating and controlling the movements of said mem- 130 ore bars, of means for producing'a lurality of slits in the nuts shell, and mec anism for cracking the thus slitted shell before the nut is released from the said holding -members.

3. In a machine of the character escribed, the combination with a nut holding device and a plurality of yieldingly mounted revoluble saws disposed with respect thereto, of mechanism for advancing said nut holding means for causing the slitting of the n'uts shell b said saws, and means for cracking the thuss 'tted shellbefore discharging the nut from the machine. I

4. In a machine of the character described, thecombination with 'a pair of alining endwise movable plunger and anvil members arranged to successivel receive and hold nuts placed singly there etween, and a 'plu; rality of' rapidly revoluble saws, of mechanfor moving said lunger and anvil members in a longitudina direction so as to cause the nuts shell to be engaged and-slitted by said saws, means for automatically shorten ing the longitudinal distance between the ends of the plunger and anvil immediately succeeding t e action ofthe saws thereby correspondin y compressing the thus acted upon nut an cracking its shell, and means for releasing the nut and returning the several. devices or elements back to their normal positions.

5. In a machine of the character described, provided with a pair'of endwise movable normally independent lunger and anvil members adaptedto recelve and hold a nut laced endwise between them, and a plurality of rapidly revoluble sawsfor longitudinally slitting the shell of the thus held nut, the combination therewith of means for tem porarily contracting the distance between the -endsoof the said nut holding members,

thereby cracking or fracturing the slotted shell of the thus held nut before it is discharged from the machine.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a air of springpressed mechanically' actuated =-jaws adapted to freely receive single'nuts varying in size, and a plurality of small suitably mounted revo- 50 lu le saws, of a pair of alining plunger and anvil members, means for actuating said'r members whereby the nut is centralized and held between them and then carried from said jaws to hie/acted upon by the saws, and means cobperating with the nut holding members for cracking the shell of the thus supported nut before it is discharged froin the machine. I f 7. In a machine of the. character described, the combination of a series ofsuitalbly arranged revoluble saws, a pair of mechanic" all movable plunger and anvil members for he din a nut therebetween and subjecting its she to the cutting or slitting action of. 65 said saws, means for exhausting the chips and dust from the'main operating head pr chamber, and mechanism for cracking the nuts 'shellafter it has been acted upon bythe saws and prior to its being discha ged from the machine.

8. ,In a machine of the character described,-

the combination with mechanically movable alining plunger and anvil members arranged to hold anut endwise therebetween, and a series of revoluble saws having their cutting edges located in-the ath of the thus-hel nut, of a device for 160 ing both plunger and anvil together at a. redetermined point the plungers forwar movement, means for temllporarily holding the anvil stationary wh' e the ,lunger is completing its saidiorward stro e, and -means operatively con- ,nected with said locking device and plunger for releasing the anvil while the. plunger is" rndving rearwardly. I I

9. In a machine of the character described provided with a pair of mechanically movable alining plunger and anvil members arranged to receive and hold a nut endwise therebetween, and meansfor temporarily locking and holding. the anvil stationary and also for releasing it during each revolution of the machine, the combination therewith of a pair ofcooperating nut-receivin j aws arranged with relation to said p unger and anvil members, said jaws having their inner adjacent faces constructed so as to centralize and hold nuts varying in diameter, means for moving the jaws toward and from each other, a positively actuated cam, and a spririgpressed element, 1*, engaging said cam. and sing operatively-connected with said jawmoving means arranged to impart a yielding pressure uponthe jaws.

10, In a machme of the character described, the combination of'a pair of suitably mounted normally independent aliningplunger and anvil members adapted when m use to hold a nut between their adjacent ends, means for longitudinally slitting the shell of .110 the thus held nut, mechanism for reciprocating the plunger in an endwise direction, a de-* vice actuated by the latter for locking the anvil to the plunger whereby the'two members are capable of movement in unison, a stop for arresting said movement of .the anvil just prior to the'termination of the forward or working stroke thereby temporarily lessening the distance between the adjacent ends of the members, and means for disconnect- '120 ing the latter and returning them-to their respective normal ositions.

I 11. In a mac 'ne of the character described, the combination with a fixed chambered working head having a central opening extending through its end walls, and a series of yieldingly mounted peripherally arrantged saws located in said chamber and adapte to rotate in planes substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said opening, of

means for actuating the saws in a simultaneone manner, means for holding a nut and sub- 'jecting. its shell to the'action of said saws so as to (produce slits therein while it is being passe tween the saws, and mechanism constructed and arranged to cooperate with said nutholding means for cracking the thus slitted shell before the nut is released. I

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a suitably mounted nut-cracking plunger having an arm member I secured thereto, and means for reciprocating the arm-carrying plunger in a longitudinal direction, of a movable anvil member in axial alinement with the lunger, a spring-pressed rod h arranged para lel with said plunger and anvil members having a dog mounted thereon adapted to be en aged by said arm so as to actuate the rod/en wise, means consisting of members 0 and (1 secured to the" rod and anvilrespectively, and members for controlling the movements of said rod so as to temporarily lock the anvil in position While the nut is being cracked by the plunger, and means operable by said arm for releasing the anvil-locking means While the plunger is returning to its normal position.

13. In a machine of the character described, an endwise movable rod it provided with a notch, an anvil member, a device for locking the anvil in a stationary position, and a spring-pressed latch ,located ,with respect to the notched portion'of the rod, in combination witha reciprocating plunger member, and means connected with the latter for actuating the rod and said anvil-locking device and for releasing the latch from said notch, substantially as hereinbefore described an for the purpose set forth. 14. In a machine of the character" de-v scribed, the combination of means for longitudinally slitting a nuts shell, endwise reciprocatory alining plunger and anvil memendwise through the chamber and be-- ment of said anvil member and looking it in.

position, and means connected with the plunger adapted to engage said device and unlock the anvil before the plunger enters upon its next stroke.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of suitably mounted slitting saws arranged around a common center, a revoluble driving member for simultaneously rotating said saws *havin a central 0 ening extending longitudinal y therethroug and an annular hub havin the inner surface of its Wall outwardly flaring and forming an enlarged chamber in continuous open communication with said central opening, means for holding a nut and subjecting it to the action of the saws thereby slitting its shell, and means for rc-' leasing the thus acted upon nut so that it w1ll fall upon the beveledclrcumscribing surface of sald chamber and be discharged there from. i

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of. a revolubly mounted saw driving member having an enlarged central opening extending therethrough into which the treated nuts are dis:

charged, and a relatively stationary clearing device having a member thereof projecting into said opening for freeing any nuts adhering to the inner wall of the opening by centrifugal force.

Signed at 'Suncook, N. II, this 31 day of August, 1908.

CHARLES S. STEVENS.

lVitnesses:

(1R. STEVENS,- J. F. LYNCH. 

